Local Teacher, Class Honored For Conservation Projects

LITHONIA, GA -- Last summer during a family visit to SeaWorld Orlando, DeKalb school teacher Sharon Thomas was frustrated after she did not receive a plastic straw for her drink until she learned that that SeaWorld eliminated single-use plastic drinking straws to cut down on pollution and help save animals. Thomas, who teaches at Panola Way Elementary, saw this as a perfect opportunity to create an incredible learning moment and turned her experience into an assignment for her class.

The students conducted research on how plastic can harm our oceans and wrote speeches which they presented to the school’s principal about why SeaWorld should not provide straws or lids was the right thing to do.

On Tuesday, in celebration of Teacher Appreciation Day and to thank Thomas, SeaWorld Orlando surprised her with 25 complimentary passes for her and her entire class to experience the park, as well as some stuffed dolphins. The Georgia Aquarium, a partner of SeaWorld, also gave each student a ticket to come learn more about our oceans and be inspired by marine life here in Atlanta.

The assignment turned from an educational project into a on how small changes can help the environment in a big way. Students loved the project so much they asked to do more; many students started to use reusable bottles, they asked to visit a landfill and offered to clean the roads around them, the city even recognized their efforts awarding the school an “Adopt-A-Road” sign.

Thomas engaged her students to become solution-oriented, active citizens who are passionate about taking care of our environment – and it all started with visit to an amusement park.